Slavic and East European Studies

Coordinator:

Dr. Matt Ciscel, Associate Professor

Department of English

Central Connecticut State University

1615 Stanley Street
New Britain, CT 06050-4010

Phone: (860) 832-2749

No one would dispute the enormous global significance of the political transformation of Eastern Europe during the past decade and the exciting events accompanying it. Democratization and the opening up of the region to foreign investment have created unprecedented opportunities for American business to expand its trade contacts and overseas markets into that area, particularly in the banking, aviation, natural resource development, computers, mass media, and telecommunications industries.

Central Connecticut State University offers an interdisciplinary major program in Slavic and East European Studies designed to help students take advantage of job opportunities created by these increased business contacts, or prepare them for more traditional jobs in the federal government and/or graduate study in the languages, culture, history, and politics of Eastern Europe. Students with specialization in Slavic and East European Studies can pursue careers as business facilitators and consultants, federal government researchers (analysts, foreign language specialists, and national security experts), educators, interpreters, journalists, and more. Firms which do business in Eastern Europe have an ongoing need for employees with knowledge of regional languages and culture. This specialization can be usefully combined with training in many other professional areas.

Like other regional studies programs at CCSU, the Slavic and East European Studies program is housed within the International Studies program: majors receive a B.A. in International Studies with focus on Slavic and East European Studies.

The Russian studies program is part of the area studies program in Slavic and East European Studies. Students in International Studies may opt for the broader focus in Slavic/East European Studies, which takes advantage of the University’s strong program in Polish Studies, or for a more concentrated focus on Russian Studies.

B.A. Program in International Studies, 57 credits

Program Requirements

Core Curriculum, 12 credits

IS 225 The World as a Total System

IS 475 Senior Project

and two of the following:

GEOG 120 World Regional Geography

HIST 122 World Civilization II

PS 104 The World’s Political Systems

Regional Specialization, 18 credits

Six courses in Slavic and Eastern European Studies, selected from:

· ANTH 426, 475*

· ENG 288*, 488*

· GEOG 448, 459*

· HIST 347, 348, 356, 447, 448, 479, 480, 481, 482, 493*, 497*, 540*, 542

· HON 210*, 250*;

· HUM 100*, 150*, 290*, 490*, 494*

· ML400*

· IS 450, 490*, 497*

· PS 435, 490*, 491*, 492*

· RUS 315, 316, 441, 442

· TH 489*

*These topic and field courses may be chosen only when they focus on the area of specialization.

Additional Topic, IS and/or Honors course options focusing on the region of specialization may be available.

Directed Electives, 9 credits

Three additional courses in Slavic and Eastern European Studies or in a related field approved by advisor.

Modern Language , 18 credits

Six courses in a Slavic or Eastern European Language through the 226 level (third year) or demonstration of equivalent proficiency. Languages offered are Russian and Polish. Students with proficiency must take additional courses in Slavic or Eastern European Studies in order to fulfill this eighteen credit requirement.

Structured International or Multi-cultural Experience

At least one semester of faculty supervised, in-depth exposure to another way of life is required. Ideally, students will spend one academic year abroad, as part of the CCSU Study Abroad Program. As an alternative, International Studies faculty will assist students to develop a local multi-cultural experience related to the student’s academic track or regional specialization.

M.S. Program in International Studies, 30-33 credits

Program Requirements

Core Curriculum, 12 credits

IS 570, IS 571, IS 572, Comm 543

Regional Specialization, 15 credits

Five courses in Slavic and East European Studies at the 400 level or above, as approved by advisor, chosen from among the following:

· ANTH 426, 475*

· ENG 488*

· GEOG 448, 459*

· HIST 447, 448, 479, 480, 481, 482, 493* 497*, 540*, 542

· HUM 490*, 494*

· IS 450, 490*, 497*, 590*, 596*, 597*

· ML 400*; PS 435, 490*, 491*, 492*

· RUS 441, 442

*These topic and field courses may be chosen only when they focus on the area of specialization.

Additional Topic and/or IS course options focusing on the region of specialization may be available.

Note: No more than 9 credit hours at the 400 level, as approved by the graduate adviser, may be counted toward the graduate planned program of study.

Research and Capstone, 3 to 6 credits

Plan A: IS 598, Research in International Studies and IS 599, These in International Studies; or

Plan B: IS 598, Research in International Studies and Comprehensive Exam; or

Plan C: IS 598, Research in International Studies and IS 595, Special Project in International Studies.

Modern Language Requirement

Demonstrated competency equal to the 226 level in a single language related to the area of specialization.

Study Abroad

Through the University’s partner institutions around the globe, CCSU students are presented with exciting opportunities to discover the world through overseas study. Living and learning in a new culture prepares students for the increasingly integrated and interdependent world around them.

Russia:

Russian Studies majors have the option of fulfilling their study abroad requirement by attending any one of a number of programs in Russia, such as the CIEE, ACTR, or University of Arizona summer, semester, or academic year programs.

For Slavic and Eastern European Studies majors, the University also sponsors study abroad programs in the following locations:

Hungary:

University of Pécs

Poland:

University of Gdánsk

Kraków University of Technology

University of Warsaw

Wrocław Technical University

Affiliations

CCSU has a consortium agreement with the University of Arizona (UA) which allows CCSU students to attend UA’s summer study abroad programs in Russia while continuing to receive financial aid through CCSU, if they normally qualify for it. Scholarship money is also available from the Center for International Education. The University of Arizona’s five-week Summer Session I Russian language program in St. Petersburg has been particularly popular among CCSU Russian Studies and Slavic and Eastern European Studies majors. Dr. Paul Karpuk, Associate Professor of Russian at CCSU, serves regularly as a group leader for this program.

Slavic and Eastern European Studies Committee

Coordinator:

Dr. Matt Ciscel, Associate Professor

Department of English

Central Connecticut State University

1615 Stanley Street
New Britain, CT 06050-4010

Phone: (860) 832-2749; E-mail: ciscelm@ccsu.edu

Members:

Dr. Richard Benfield, Geography,

Dr. Jay Bergman, History

Dr. M. Biskupski, History

Dr. Ivan Gotchev, Mathematical Sciences

Dr. Tatiana Gotcheva, Mathematical Sciences

Dr. Paul A. Karpuk, English

Dr. David Kideckel, Anthropology

Dr. William Tracey, Management and Organization

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